Page 111 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

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Becca

It’s seven a.m. when a faint knocking wakes me. My eyes slowly open, my core throbbing from the sensation of Eli’s tongue in my pussy and his fingers wrapped around my throat.

Too bad it was only a dream.

I groan, running my hands over my face, wondering who the hell is here this early in the morning. My thighs are still slick from arousal as I open the front door.

“I’m not leaving,” Jax states immediately.

I blink, caught off guard from his tone and still hazy from sleep.

“Huh?” I yawn. “What’dya mean, you’re not leavin’?”

It’s not necessarily a game changer for me, either way. My ticket is bought, my suitcase is packed, and I can always call up Jeremy and stay with him if Jax is really changing his plans.

He pushes by me, his hand running through his wavy strands as he heads to my kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets and starting a pot of coffee.

My eyes track his movements and I cross my arms. “No, please. Make yourself at home.”

He spins toward me, his back resting against the countertop. “You’re gonna want coffee for what I’m about to tell you, Becs.”

My lips turn down. Jax is not known for his broodiness, so the fact it’s radiating off him in waves has unease prickling along my spine. “What happened?”

His jaw tics, his palms gripping the edge of the counter. “Let me ask you something.” His eyes narrow. “Did you know about Lee’s dad?”

My forehead creases. “You’re gonna need to be more specific. What about him?”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Dammit, Sweetheart,” he mutters.

A fist grips my stomach, squeezing. “What is it, Jax? Is he… is everything okay?”

“No. Things are far from okay with him.” He fills two mugs and my eyes zone in on the steam as it spirals from the cups and disappears into the air.

“Where were you last night, anyway?” Jax asks.

The memory of Eli inside me makes my core spasm, sending a rush of blood to my cheeks. I walk over, grabbing the coffee cup and using it to hide my flush. “Don’t change the subject, asshole. What’s wrong with Lee’s old man?”

“He’s not good, Becs. Lost his shit last night at the party, and reeked of whiskey.”

I shrug. “Find me a person in this town who ain’t drinkin’.”

His brows pull down. “Not like this, they aren’t. I’m telling you, Becs. He’s got a problem, and Lee’s been dealing with it on her own for who knows how fucking long.”

My brain races, confusion pulling my skin tight. “No, I… Lee wouldn’t keep somethin’ like that from me. Besides, that’s not really somethin’ you can hide.”

As soon as I say the words, I know they’re bullshit. I think of Momma and how she’s the picture-perfect wife always sipping on her “water.” I think to all the times Lee couldn’t have me over, all the reasons why they missed Sunday service. I think of all the things that I kept from her.

To believe she doesn’t have her own secrets is naive.

My hand covers my mouth, my heart sinking in my chest. “Oh, God. Are you sure?”

He huffs a laugh. “Pretty fucking sure, Becs. He was a wreck last night. And if you could have seen Lee’s face…” He pauses, running his fingers through his hair.

My stomach cramps at the thought of her holding this on her own. “How could I not know?”

Jax sighs. “I didn’t know either. You know how Lee gets, always keeping everything close to the chest. Avoiding confrontation.”

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